Northern China flash flood kills 8, Xinhua reports

At least eight people have been killed and four remain missing after a flash flood in northern China, state media reported on Sunday, as the East Asian monsoon continues to trigger severe weather across the country.

The flooding occurred around 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday when a river in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia overflowed, sweeping away 13 campers near Bayannur, a key agricultural hub. One survivor has been rescued.

China has faced weeks of extreme weather since July, with the monsoon lingering over both the north and south, bringing unusually heavy rainfall. Experts link the shifting pattern to climate change, warning of mounting risks as flash floods displace thousands and cause billions in economic losses.

Bayannur plays an important role as a national grain and oil production centre, as well as a hub for sheep breeding and processing.

Meanwhile, in southern Hainan province, a three-and-a-half-month fishing ban ended on Saturday. Authorities had earlier ordered ships to remain in port due to persistent heavy rain.

The disaster in Inner Mongolia comes shortly after a deadly downpour in Beijing—about 1,000 kilometres away—killed at least 44 people and forced the evacuation of more than 70,000 residents.

To support recovery efforts, the central government last week allocated 430 million yuan ($59.9 million) in new disaster relief funds, bringing the total since April to at least 5.8 billion yuan.

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